Rottnest swim event cancelled 'for safety reasons'

Rough seas on Saturday morning have forced the cancellation of the Rottnest 'Port to Pub' open water swimming event.

The event was already well underway when the decision was taken to pull swimmers out of the water, with up to 1200 competitors taking part - some of whom got close to the finish line. Support boats helped to ferry most of the swimmers to shore.

The Port to Pub swim has been called off due to "treacherous" conditions.
Photo: Port to Pub

"We regret to advise that the 2018 Hotel Rottnest Port to Pub has been cancelled due to the advice of relevant authorities that rough water conditions are too treacherous to proceed with the event," the organisers said in a Facebook post.

"This has been an incredibly difficult decision for the organising committee, and we can only imagine it will prove disappointing for our wonderful swimming community. However, safety will always remain our primary focus."

The even started at Leighton Beach near Fremantle and challenges participants to swim 19.7km to Rottnest as a solo, duo or team of 4 or 6.

Participant Emma Jolley was swimming in a group made up of her water polo team mates, and said the ocean "was quite choppy, crazy weather, but unsafe."

Competitors are now being encouraged to come "drown their sorrows" at a "Cancellation Party" held at the Hotel Rottnest.